Dariush Eghbali: Iran's Frank Sinatra? - داريوش.

Hello...

We continue today with another post, but this one —for me at least, is going to be so special. After leaving Bahrain; this small island-state in the Persian Gulf (or, Arabian Gulf), we head towards the east to a land of musical diversity and history: Iran (إيران). Bahrainis are mostly Iranians by ethnicity. One in four Bahrainis speaks fluent Farsi. Our artist today is a figure of love and peace around the world, true, but he's much loved by Bahrainis as well as Arabs in particular (include me here).

On hindsight, I knew fer sure that this post was going to be the hardest blog-post that I'm going to do so far because I really admire today's singer, so much that I have no words to describe him: he's beyond words. There aren't any words fair enough; devoutly-just that could be used in a proper manner to even try and begin to describe this great legend in such a small place as a web-blog's window box.

So, allow me to give you my best shot at blogging about Dariush Eghbali.


Dariush:

(alternate spellings are Darius, Daryush, Daryoush, Dariyush, Daruosh, Darvish. Full real-name: Pedarash Mahmode Eghbali).

The always 'smoking-cool' Dariush.

For Dariush one becomes wordless, shtoom... silent. Only for his voice to keep itself in one's back-mind. His great voice is simply magic. I have sweet memories of that time when I first got introduced to his music by mere chance. And, then grew from just a listener to a faithful admirer. Now I reckon that Dariush lives somewhere in the deepest recesses of my heart this 'Sultan' of Persian music, this great man. How beautiful were those moments!

Dariush Eghbali  - داريوش اقبالي

Dariush when he was just a kid.

This great Iranian singer was born in Tehran on the 4th of February 1951, but the middle years of his early life were spent with his family on an island. His father Mahmode Eghbali was a well-known landlord who took the family to Karj (خارک), an island that sits 25kms from the Iranian coast on the north-eastern side of the Persian Gulf. Then, the family moved again almost 1000kms faraway to to the north Mianeh/Meyaneh in the East Azerbaijan Province. These early childhood travels had a grave effect on Dariush as he always thought of himself as a traveler (مسافر) through this transient life.
 

Dariush School picture.

The story of the early days of his musical career is still an enigma, but his first singing career steps were taken for the first time at the age of 9 in a school celebration-play called Shahrara ('The Spark') as it went on stage. Likewise in high school (Dbyrstanhayy Farabi), in Tehran he spent his time doing art school paid-programs. Hassanpour Khayat Bashi (a famous Iranian film director, T.V. producer and singer, too), saw the young man singing around Tehran's clubs where the young Dariush has finally settled in his early twenties in the late 60's and worked on the young singer's image because Dariush's voice was just spotless.

In his early singing career - early 70's.

That was Dariush's official entry into professional music in 1970 with a song he sang on a T.V. music show (Don't Tell Me You Love Me - آیا به من بگو عاشقمی). In the same year that he got on T.V. he made a song again called 'I Do Not Like to be Famous'. It is worth mentioning that Dariush, on the other hand, had a serious face (which got deformed later on by a nutcase fan who threw acid-water at him in late 70's).

Early picture of Dariush.

This made it plausible for directors to give him lead roles in their over-emotional films that were very popular back in the 70's. The early, so-called 'pre-revolutionary' times in Iran weren't any better than those post-revolution ones: the Shah's reign was known as a tyranny, but Iranians were able at least to keep a colourful lifestyle like any in the west. Singers with stage names such as 'Bobby' were carbon-copy prints of Elvis (ergh, Bobby Daren, maybes?) and a bunch more of these idiots saw some minor fame in the 60's, issuing their super-hits (سوبر هايت) records for a healthy music market in and out Tehran the capital.

Dariush Eghbali circa 1971.

Bashi's intention was to make another film star, but much to his surprise, Dariush became popular for being a singer when he sang his first song live on that popular T.V. show which was the norm. Oddly enough, Dariush wasn't discovered by another, more infuelntial T.V. presenter and producer Fereydoun Farrokhzad (who made famous such rising singers like Sattar, Ebi, Shohreh, Morteza, to name but a few).

The trio of Dariush, Keivan, and Afshin. 1973.

Dariush, on the other hand, sang his songs like nobody else did: wonderful, serene, heart-rending, love songs that didn't have that usual western influence to them, or what some call rather stupidly psych-funk beats. Dariush also played with other artists, and in the very beginning he formed a trio with singers Keivan and Afshin. He also sang in other trios with Atabi, Riza, Bahrouz, and duets with female stars like GooGoosh, Ramesh, Marjan etc. But, his most dramatically touching work is when he sings as a soloist. In one word? I really have none to describe it. God, it's sheer joy.

The real Iranian stars: GooGoosh and Dariush (Darioosh).

The songs were purely Iranian: neither old, nor new in style. That set him apart as something else like Frank Sinatra was in the west singing power 'croon' ballads in a modern way. His songs were catching popularity far speedier than most of those other also-popular singers because for Dariush, the best poets stood behind him, and gave him their lyrics to put to song knowing that their poems would start to take to life once Dariush's mouth started singing them. Few other Iranian singers like Fereydoun Foroughi shared this with Dariush as his brother was a famous Iranian poet.

Fereydoun, Ramesh, Dariush.

The Shah with his wife, Farah.

Most people weren't satisfied with the status quo and rule of the Shah; truly and probably, that's why every Iranian singer sang crypto-revoultionary songs to denounce this monarchy renowned for its lavish life, and fuckspensive extravagant spending. Even communist University students used to sing these in the mid-70' at the height of the anarchic student movement that swept the entire world a few years before. These singers and students got jailed by the Shah's security forces and most of the singers started to flee the country in numbers even before the Islamic revolution came after the killing of Khomeini's son Mostafa in 1977.

The revolutionary Islamist Guards.

These songs were books of poetry in all actuality: every word in these songs was put with utter care; every metaphor, simile, couplet was begging for its deserving singer to make them shine and resonate with life. Most of these singers were jailed for being such adventurous revolutionaries and both, Dariush and Fereydoun were jailed by the SAVAK (ساواک: Iran's C.I.A. arm) during the reign of the Shah of Iran Mohammed Riza Pahlavi before he got thwarted.

Dariush Eghbali.

That was very destructive to music and all sorts of arts. Then, it all began all over again when the Ayatoullah Rouhllah Khomeini took the ruling seat (Note: he's a Shii'te cleric leader who was brought by C.I.A. and French intelligence to power from his exile imposed on him by the Shah in Paris in an Air-France jet in 1978 so that the western powers could put their hands on Iran's resources which they still control, regardless of all the spinformation the media tries to throw your way these days about Iran's nuclear weapons threat which is just a sham), and then after the coup, Iran turned its head away from art and music. Unfortunately, the story still continues today.

Dariush on T.V., 1976.

Music-wise, Dariush also drank from the same ancient conium that is Persian devotional poetry: he didn't sing only patriotic, nationalistic songs, but took his words from more than one poet like Jalaludeen El-Rumi, Hafiz Ahmad, Nader, Shamloo and collaborated with Ahmad Pejman, Mohammad Shams, Farid Zoland, Varojan and many other innovative and avant-garde lyricists, musicians, and composers to make music.

The best singer at his best.

His works took stem and shape from lyrics of pious never-heard men like Naderpour, Jannati Ataei, and Bayat Ghanbari, and unknown, poor poets like Simin Behbahani, Ardalan Sarfaraz Hussain, Shahyar Ghanbari and Iraj Jannati. He called upon the words of Galilee and Farid Zealand, composers Babak Bayat, Esfandiar Monfaredzadeh, Hassan and also worked with other less-known composers like Shamaizadeh and Babak Afshar.

Live on Iranian T.V..

This was due to his songs being not only sung about his love for his country that became the feast for colonialist powers and minority Shii'tes (they make only 47% of the population, by the way), but also about love and lovers, lost promises, broken hearts, and vacant souls. These themes were a constant humane necessity written through the ages in a place like Iran so rich with its history of ageless art and passionate poetry. But, after the Islamic Revolution (1976-1978), and when Iran became an 'allegedly' Islamic Republic (جمهوري إسلامي إيران), the ban of all pop music, songs, bands, halls, records, poetry, art, artists, you name it... put a curb on Dariush's work, so he decided that the time was ripe to move again, this time leaving his native beloved homeland alltogether in October, 1978 for England returning back only in 1985.

Dariush Eghbali in the late 70's.

His 25 albums are all on record: an evidence of his exceptional work and devotion to music. Dariush has starred also in two Iranian films: "The Friends" (Yaran), and "The Cry Under Water" (Faryad Zir Abe). His films were honoured recently by a festival for Dariush hailed by the organizers in nearby Bahrain as "Iran's representative for contemporary music" and was awarded the Highest Peace Trophy as a token for his efforts for world peace. Dariush has been giving concert after concert in recent years outside of Iran in places like the U.S., England, Germany, Canada, France, Holland, and has performed concerts in Japan.

Yaran film Poster.

Cry Under Water Poster.

These works of art still resonate with his 'trill-like' voice, and unbelievably beautiful arrangements. Some of his songs are bitter-sweet melodies sung by a pained heart. His heart. This man was truly Iran's best singer ever. And, his voice is still enjoyed by millions of Iranians all across the world, wherever they might be far from their homeland and beloved Iran, Dariush's voice reminds them of it.

Dariush Eghbali: The 'real' Iran.

This man's entire being was singing the words of the poems, until he himself became the poem. Dariush is not just a singer: he is the love that stood the hardships of an Iran that got torn after so many years of colonialist and extremist tyranny. Not a single Iranian hates Dariush's music. He is loved by every one. He is a poem. He is the song of Iran. He is the real Iran. That's him.

Forever.

Singer and the love of Iran, Dariush.

Addendum:
-His Addiction:

Dariush after the attack.

Dariush and wife Venos, receiving
the Rev.Ronald L. Wright's
Award in 2005.

He was addicted to morphine after he was hospitalized from second-degree burns from a fan's attack. At that time (and according to his story) Dariush had little familiarity with any drugs. He overcame addiction and wanted to be active at combating drug addiction, and therefore worked with the Ayeneh Foundation which he himself helped establish and the Iranian Recovery Center. He came to personal levels with the help-recovery and recovery process of addicts and founded a chat site called Xerxes, plus his organization's own website-chat and help-line behboudichat.com. The foundation has already helped forty-thousand addicts who have addictions in Iran alone. He was awarded the Ron Simmons And Rev.Ronald L. Wright's Award for his distinguished efforts. Dariush is a member of AI (Amnesty International), and still through his voice, fights the shadows of evil, power, drug-abuse, poverty throughout the world.

Dariush singing in the 70's.

I hope that this post has shed some light on Dariush Eghbali's life, music, and accomplishments. He's a married man now who lives with his wife Venos, and beautiful little daughter Melad.

Dariush Eghbali in the 80's.

I know one thing 'nd one thing I know... Dariush himself is the best. Really. Dariush has no 'best-hits' and all that crap. His songs are the best. Down 'ere you will find 8 of his albums. Yeah, you heard that right. And to cover the whole nine yards (as one Americanism goes...), his Singles are to be found, too. Bonus, I hear? A separate single-album (Ahay Mardome Donya).

Dig it, babes!

Download all the 8 albums and singles from here.

F.n.: Some lyrics and a few video clips are to be found here complete with various downloadable links. Sadly, Dariush's official website is down at the moment, but do dig this humble homage to such a great icon of art, love, and music here and only here at Audiotopia.

Lots of love!

H.H.

Part III: Bahrock Bands: Early Rock Bands of Bahrain - The Sharks (Final Part).

Dear blawggers,

On nows for the last installment of Bahraini rock bands from the 70's and 80's. Get ready, for... in this last post, you will be introduced for the first time I am sure to a band that was really good. And, I have to repeat here... really really good.

The term 'garage band' was coined in the early 60's to describe how some young rock bands were trying new sounds in the privacy of their home garages. That, and the fact that these bands were as raw sounding as a mechanic's garage, to boot. Garage bands are a rarity and the collectors with the wildest heads are after these little-known punkadelic bands as if their lives depend on it.

In Bahrain, and in the late 60's and early 70's, the young generation wanted to rock. They riled and roiled inside their parents' house garages the same as any, say mid-west American garage/beat band did, renting a small room if none was available to hide their instruments and practice their new sounds. One of these was The Shiek Issa Sports City Club in the capital Manama. The Brothers Band played there way too often at its early starts. And so did many other bands. Sadly, and with a sigh... these young people did not succeed in starting a beat band festival like the ones in Israel and Turkey as we've mentioned in previous posts. Instead, they had very fierce competition between them and held promontory battle-of-bands that were so popular in Bahrain and neighbouring Gulf states like Kuwait.

Here below is a quick, final look at some of these bands. We shall start with the best of them all...

The Sharks:

The Sharks Band - Live at the Manama Hilton - 1980.

The Sharks circa 1970s.

This band started singing in Farsi sounding pretty much like every Iranian 70's singer/band. Their roots can be traced to 1967, even if I am not so sure about it. The Sharks (الشاركس), played mostly live and had only one album issued on a cassette years later by the Kuwaiti record label Al-Nazaer. Little is known about this band except that one of its ex-members went later to join Osiris.

Here's the cassette-album. 'Njoy!

The Sharks - S/T.

(Bonus: some of their live songs were caught on video cassette and uploaded at YouTubia. I here, give you these seven live tracks played at the Manama Hilton, Bahrain in 1980. All songs are sung in Farsi/Persian (early Bahraini bands were so heavily influenced by Koroush Yaghmaei and Iranian singers like Dariush and Sattar). The quality of the video cassette is beyond shitty. Unluckily, the tape loops and poops here and there. Mind, still the music is enjoyable. So, try to enjoy these rare moments of good rock music.

The Sharks الشاركس - Live At The Hilton - 1980.









The Happiness Band - فرقة الهابنس:
On with the show now, and we go dig some beats and wonderful rare tunes by The Happiness Band (فرقة الهابنس/السعادة) from Bahrain. One sole cassette survives for this good band (same-titled - Nazaer 1985). Hope it makes y'all happy. Right!

The Happiness Band - الهابنس.

More bands but these are newer ones. Here below are The Family Band, The Salatins Band, and Al-Kawakeb Band. These bands veer more on the pop sounds and almost lick early rap in a way that's not totally deplorable. Still, this treasure trove of old 80's cassette that you're about to explore is a rare occurring and one should take feebly-happening chances like this one here to catch whatever this one-of-its-kind weblog is dropping. The pleasure again, is always mine. Rawk awn!

The Family Band - فرقة العائلة.

The Salatins Band - فرقة السلاطين.

Al-Kawakeb Band - فرقة الكواكب البحرينية.

See ya cowboys and cowgirls at one more blog-post with... Dariush!

Bubai!

H.H.

Part II: Bahrock Bands: Early Rock Bands of Bahrain. Ali Bahr: The Bob Marley of Bahrain? - علي بحر.

Hello once again... in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The last post has surely shed some light on the fledgling Bahrain rock bands' scene, and we know now how it's hard to put any music to any sort of record in the 70's and early 80's back at that time. Part II of Bahrain's awesome music history continues here, with a handful of bands from that period.

There is no doubt about Bahrain being the most musically-developed and mature country among the five other less-interesting ones (namely; Oman, Qatar, the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia and Kuwait). Bahrain saw its first development in music when rock-'n'-roll invaded the world, and records were reaching these states in the mid-60's by way of expat British citizens who worked there mainly in the oil industry. The other states were slow at catching that wave, but most Bahrainis (and for their Iranian backgrounds perhaps...), took the necessary measures and worked hard to start their individual bands, one by one.

The roster for these bands started to get larger and larger, and by the end of the 80's there were around 30 bands active, playing to devout fans, like: The Sharks - فرقةالشاركس, The Roots - فرقة الجذور,  The Sun Shine Band - فرقة الشروق, The Sitting Sun - فرقة الغروب,  The Six-Boys Band - فرقة السكس بويز, Future -  فيوتشر, The Bahraini Trio - فرقة الثلاثي البحريني, The Windows Band - فرقة الويندوز, The Storm - فرقة العاصفة, Smile - فرقة البسمة, Al-Kawakeb ('Planets') Band - فرقة الكواكب, The Stars - فرقة النجوم, The Lights - فرقة الأنوار, Ferqat Angham Al-Khaleej - فرقة أنغام الخليج, The Happiness Band - فرقة السعادة, The Friends Band - فرقة الأصدقاء, The Brothers Band - فرقة الأخوة, The Family Band - فرقة العائلة, The Peace Band - فرقة السلام, The Salatins Band - فرقة السلاطينز, The Candles Band - فرقة الشموع, The Al-Wa'ad ('The Promise') Band - فرقة الوعد, Abdallah Guitar - عبدالله غيتار etc... and with time and individual effort, most of these bands managed to buy their own equipment and learned on their own how to play these like real stars.

The venues weren't as scarce as some might think: Bahrainis are fun-loving. And with time the number of parties and small-scale gigs they played grew making some of these bands popular in nearby countries like Kuwait, and the U.A.E.. This fame and fortune founded in late 70's was probably, all brought by one guitarist who used to sing in Farsi songs made by the exceptional Iranian singer (our very next blog's subject...) Dariush Ighbali; and everyone in Bharain started to nickname him Al-Ustad ('The Leader'), Ali Khamis Bahr. His other, earlier one was The Bob Marley of Bahrain, because at that time, the reggae singer was so popular in all Arab countries that there wasn't one youngster's room devoid of his picture on the wall.

Early Rock Bands of Bahrain. The Brothers Band/ Ali Bahr:

Ali Bahr: Bahrain's best singer.

This young man (1960-2011), who was born in the island of Muharrak came from a very humble family. His father was a sailor and his family was known as a family of singers. The young boy grew fond of western popular music, and started to play in a rock band called الصخرة ('The Stone') in the early 70's (1971-1972 to be 'zact), then they changed their name into Ferqat Al-Bahrain Al-Sha'abiyah ('Bahrains Pop Group'), finally leaving it to form his own band along with what presumably was Bahrain's Godfather of guitar-rock music and Ali's cousin on the side of his mother Mahmoud Shams naming their band The Roots -الجذور.

Ali singing and playing keyboards.

Ali was a perfect keyboardist unparallelled in the region. And, besides singing in a well-formed sweet voice, he has excellent managerial talents that he used to bring together band members from different sects in Bahrain. The Stone grew into another band incarnation in 1986, this time named The Brothers: it was Ali's —Shii'te himself— message to the Shii'te and Sunni Muslim Bahrainins who never had a mutual understanding outside the realm of music. The tensions between these two sects are still visible these days and after Bahrain was declared a Kingdom in 2002 (the new Monarchy is Sunni), they are making sure to curb the power of Shii'tes in this small island of only half a million inhabitants.

The Brothers (Ali is second from right) circa 1986.

The Brothers were Ali himself on the keys and the band's leader and singer, Khaled Al-Thawdi (guitarist), Issa Bahr (Ali's brother and the band's bassist), Nadir Rafaei (percussionist), plus Wajih Hassan (drummer), Sultan Al-Mas (conga-player), and Mohammed Rashid. As one can see, these bands had many members, and played a lot of instruments which added to their rich sound, and was a welcome sight at parties, and wedding haflas. Not just that: their discography up till now is a jaw-dropping 27 albums in total! This is a lot of music IMO. But, their best and most interesting works are the first few albums.

Ali at his later days, circa 2010.

Ali passed away last year and was mourned by fans from as far as Pakistan and India. His memory still lives and will forever be Bahrain's best singer. Among Ali's many nicknames was 'The Golden Throat' or الحنجرة الذهبية, and that's quite spot-on. His voice is amazing. The Brothers are said to be after all... 'Bahrain's best'.

Let's hear it then from The Brothers. Two of their earliest albums are upped here to give you but an idea of how they were so good-sounding among these bands that were trying really hard to succeed having a fierce competition with each other.

T.V. picture: Khaled Al-Thawdi(left) Ali Bahr (right).

You're the judge now. Dig.

فرقة الأخوة البحرينية - Ferqat Al-Oukhwa Al-Bahriniya:

The Brothers Band - S/T: 1988 - فرقة الأخوة البحرينية

The Roots(ex-Brothers) - Ana Wa'Liel - أنا والليل('Me And The Night') - 1982

Have fun people.

Next on the Audiotopia? The last part of  'Bahrock Bands': Early Rock Bands of Bahrain, comin' soon!

H.H.

Osiris: The Bahraini Pink Floyd? - أوزيرس.

Ya Halla!

The last posting for The Jets was jus' marvs. I had to return once again to Blogsville as if transmogrified by a magical spell from that ancient land to up one of their Live albums as a bonus (Note: I thought twice  about doing so as some of the tracks there had hiccups and are repeats from other albums, but I did it anyway being quite the completist). And, from what I've seen at Stats, it's got a good 'blogle-age', too. This makes me 'appy, guys. So, keep on listening and DL-ing these wonderful tunes that never really got any airing befitting their musical and historical status.

We will haul ass now, leaving Egypt (not completely,though), to a tiny island in the Persian Gulf called Bahrain to feature its best-known and 'heaviest' band ever: Osiris. Plus, a brief introduction to Bahraini bands' scene of the 70's and early 80's so scarce and little known outside of Bahrain itself. Get ready for jus' another rare rock show from the Middle-east only on Audiotopia.


Osiris - أوزيرس:

Osiris playing on stage cicra 1986.

Osiris is an ancient Egyptian God declared the God of Resurrection and Life and Death, and the Underworld many thousands of years ago. This band has strong roots to this on-again, off-again cycle of life-and-death as two points. Their early formation in 1969 was a beat band (Witch), playing rock and roll hits like any Iranian 60's rock bands which we all know of, and love to smithereens. Iran has a close relationship to Bahrain and most of Bahrainis speak Farsi. They both share the same history and quite like Iran... Bahrain dates way back to prehistorical times when it was a Delmonite kingdom. It was declared a Kingdom again in 2002.

Osiris is a unique band taken from different points. It has a very early start at a place that barely has any band to speak of. This band didn't just break chronological norms, but also did create a new sound so progressive, and inventive, it became known the world over and has a great, rapidly growing listeners and fans-base alike.

Leader Mohammed Al-Sadeqi - محمد الصديقي.

The earliest members of Witch were Mohammed Al-Sadeqi, who played lead guitar and sang in his not-so-bad English, his younger brother Nabil who was the sticks-meister, and cousin Mohammed Haydan who played the electric bass. The Sadeqis later asked their older sister Faiqa to play the organ as early 70's rock bands were made of these four essential instruments. They played privately in parties and rock youth gatherings, then the Sadeqis left to study in the U.S. and the U.K. (people in the Gulf area back in the 70's were maybe, the richest people on earth sending their kids to study at the most expensive universities in the world because of the oil-dollars these Gulfanarian 'cuntries' posses). And, the band broke up in 1974 and reunited only when the brothers returned back home after six years.

Mohammed playing lead live in 1984.

When the Sadeqi brothers came back, they wanted to bring Witch to life again, asking bassist Mohammed Al-Shafee (he also played later the organ), and Sami Al-Jamea (organ) to play along with them. The band grew into a six-member unit with the addition of yet, another keyboard player (Abdel-Razzak Al-Aryan, ex-Sharks member which gets a well-deserved review here on Part II: 'Bahrock Bands': Early Rock Bands of Bahrain), and rhythm guitarist Amin Qahwaji choosing the name Osiris to depict their hard rock interest playing to but a small audience of mostly drug-crazed Bahraini youngsters in secret hide-out houses.

Issa Janahi live on stage mid-80s.

After few rehearsals and an intent to make an album, they wanted to get a singer to sing in good English, and the choice came on a nice-looking gentleman whose name's Issa Janahi. And, the rest? Osiris' first official concert was held to a gawkfest of Bahrainis who watched the band play their first 'super-band' gig at the Rabia Al-Adawiyah girl school hall wearing psychedelic garbs and standing like real-ass heavy-sters such as Pink Floyd and Genesis.

Osiris live at Al-Adawiyah hall.

Back at that time, there were no such thing as 'recording studios' whatsoever in the state of Bahrain. The only working studio in that Shii'te-majority country (they looked down on any western forms of cultural manifestations as a dire threat on their orthodox beliefs), was a small one-apartment studio called Eagle (Al-Nasir). Another session player (Nadir El-Rafie on stand-up conga drums) joined them to record the album's eight songs in late 1981 and early 1982.

Bassist Al-Motawa'a with lead Mohammed Al-Saedqi live.

The band also needed to send the reel-to-reel master tape outside of Bahrain in order to press it as there were also no labels at all. The album (self-titled) was pressed on a private Philippine-based label (WEA), which sent the 1000 copies back to Bahrain. Some of these were again sent to Bahrain's radio jockeys who played the album hailing it as a revolution in Bahrain's music history. And, they're absolutely right: Bahrain had a measly rock scene, but its folkloric music and national (as it's called there 'wataniyah'), music is the most prolific and documented music in the Arabian Gulf region.

Jalil Abdallah (left) Jahani (mid-pic) Mohammed (right).

Success didn't come flying in their way with colours: the band decided to break up one more time, and two of its members left to study abroad. In late 1983, they played live on Bahrain's national (and, only...) T.V., and by 1984 they were ready to pin down their second album after a round of successful hotel-concerts played here and there by the end of that year, naming the album 'Tales of The Divers - Live' which included some Arabic songs for the first time sung by Ferqat Al-Wehda Lil-Finoun Al-Taqlidia ('The Union Band of Traditional Arts'; a good sign of the band's reverting back to their Arabic/Bahraini roots in this concept album).

2nd album Tales of The Divers 1984.

3rd album Myths & Legends 1984.

4th album Reflections 1986.

Visions From The Past - 2007.

(Note: none of these albums are available for download because of copy-right issues).

Meanwhile, the third 'studio' album recorded was being recorded in 1984 (Myths & Legends): an awe-inspiring, synth-driven attempt at braver sounds which encouraged the band to keep as a single, solid unit without any further lineup changes (two members also quit to study abroad at that time). It was the band's highest time for creativity. Most of their earlier albums were so filled with sensitive lyrics and melodic rock somehow bordering on the nostalgic part, not to mention their deeply-influenced spiritual inner hints at magic practice, other-worldy existences, etc... trying to keep sane in a world that does not spare you your mind, but gives you mundane, worthless solace in materialistic abundances in countries like the uber-rich Arabian Gulf states.

On stage, Bahrain, with Debbie Moss
who joined them as a keyboardist.

The band's 'third' album (Myths & Legends, some say it's their second), was in the works, too and through their friends from the Philippines (Pinoys are ten-a-dime in the Gulf states and they leave their country to work there for a few bob), the band arranged to perform live there when some of the ex-members came back to join for this first outside-of-Bahrain major International concert in Manila in 1986. The Sadeqi brothers' youngest (Sabah Al-Sadeqi), also came back from the U.S. forming at first, another heavy rock band named Requiem but after a few gigs, he quit to join Osiris for their fourth album in early 1988 called 'Reflections' which was released officially in 1990-91 by the music label Musea. The band went afterwards into a musical coma whether because its members got busy with work, life, family, or just simply quit.

The full band on backstage 1984.

In the late 90's Osiris started to play and record together again, and the resultant album (Visions From The Past), was an ode to their lifework and those ex-members that passed away. The album included some classical music undertones which was so progressive to boot. Then, and in 2010 another 'pure' progressive rock album (Beyond Control - Live) in which they played their most popular songs was recorded and released. A year later, and in 2011, the band that tried to stick together throughout the years issued their swan song album after they got their collective asses to the grinding, recording-stone to release their last album ever titled 'Take A Closer Look' with the band's fullest current line-up of Mohammed Al-Sadeqi on lead, Ahmed Al Qassim on bass, Nabil Al-Sadeqi on drums, Khalid Al Shamlan on keyboards and piano, Abdel-Razzak Al-A'aryan on keyboards and synthesisers, and Ahmed Ravanbach as their vocalist.

The band today still rocking the world in 2010.

The band still plays concerts around Bahrain and outside, sometimes in memoriam of their earliest songs and just like Pink Floyd and its affiliate proggers (i.e. King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, YES, Camel, etc...), Osiris stayed a heavy-sounding neo-prog rock band that deep within... has a soft core of gentleness and a hope for happiness just like a pearls' diver searching for the 'good' stuff way deep into the Arabian sea.

Osiris at the height of their creativity mid-80s.

Featured below is their first and best album (S/T), with its eight tracks: a highly-recommended prog-rock visionary album by all means. Some of the songs there have far-apart genres of music (psychedelia, synth-rock, 80's electro-pop, rock opera) and the reason behind this was, maybe Osiris' trying to play more than one influence gathering these in one beautiful collection of songs like we would find in their first 1982 album. Dig it with teeth and gums.

Osiris - S/T

Tracks Listing:
01- Fantasy.
02- Sailor On The Seas of Fate.
03- Struggle To Survive.)
04- Atmun.
05- Embers Of A Flame.
06- A Story Of Love.
07- Paradox In A-Major.
08- Look Before You Leap (Bonus Track).

Cont'd on the next blog-post:
Part II: 'Bahrock Bands': Early Rock Bands of Bahrain.

Cheers fer nows.


H.H.